Covid arrests and charges

Summary

The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request for statistics on arrests and charges related to breaches of the Emergency Powers Act during the pandemic, providing detailed breakdowns by age and residency status.

Key Facts

• 160 arrests were recorded for Covid-19 offences between March 20, 2020, and January 17, 2021.
• 83 of these arrests resulted in charges for Covid-19 offences.
• 16 of the 145 unique individuals arrested were non-residents.
• The Constabulary does not hold data on whether non-residents possessed exemption certificates.
• No arrests for Covid-19 offences were recorded for individuals over the age of 80.

Data Disclosed

• 160
• 145
• 16
• 83
• 77
• 20/03/2020
• 17/01/2021
• 11 January 2021
• 18 January 2021
• 1624929

Original Request

1. How many arrests have been made on the island for breaching the Emergency Powers Act, since 20th March 2020? 2. How many of these arrests were of non-residents who had travelled to the island with an exemption certificate since 20th March 2020? 3. How many people have been charged under the Emergency Powers Act, since 20th March 2020? Please break this information down into the following age categories: Under 16 years, 16-17 years, 18-22 years, 23-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, 70-79 years, over 80 years.

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Isle of Man Constabulary Freedom of Information Police Headquarters Dukes Avenue Douglas Isle of Man IM2 4RG

Our ref: 1624929 18 January 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 11 January 2021 and which states:

"1. How many arrests have been made on the island for breaching the Emergency Powers Act, since 20th March 2020? 2. How many of these arrests were of non-residents who had travelled to the island with an exemption certificate since 20th March 2020? 3. How many people have been charged under the Emergency Powers Act, since 20th March 2020? Please break this information down into the following age categories: Under 16 years, 16-17 years, 18-22 years, 23-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, 70-79 years, over 80 years."

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information that is being released to you. Results 1. 160 arrests have been recorded between 20/03/2020 and 17/01/2021 where at least one of the arrest reasons was for a Covid-19 offence. 2. Of the 145 individuals arrested (some residents have been arrested more than once) 16 were non-residents. The data relating to whether these individuals had exemption certificates is not held by the Constabulary. 3. 83 arrests resulted in the person being charged for the Covid-19 offence(s) (other reasons for arrest for these records may have different outcomes) Breakdown by age range for the three questions (there have been no arrests recorded for persons over 80 for Covid-19 offences to date): 2. Count of arrest records by Age range / Resident Age Range Manx Non resident Total Under 16 years 12 12 16-17 years 14 14 18-22 years 28 1 29 23-29 years 28 1 29 30-39 years 25 3 28 40-49 years 12 2 14 50-59 years 12 5 17 60-69 years 11 4 15 70-79 years 2 2 Grand Total 144 16 160 3. Count of arrest records by Age range / Outcome Age Range Charge for Covid-19 offence NFA for Covid-19 offence Under 16 years 7 5 16-17 years 4 10 18-22 years 16 13 23-29 years 10 19 30-39 years 16 12 40-49 years 9 5 50-59 years 9 8 60-69 years 11 4 70-79 years 1 1 Grand Total 83 77

Please quote the reference number 1624929 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely